Clutch-shipping mechanism.



J. W. LATIMER.

CLUTCH SHIPPING MEGHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 1330.2, 1908.

944,336, Patented Dec.28,1909.

' Jrzu filbr dhli laftmzer ANDREW. u. GRAHAM 00.. PMoTc-umoummens,wAsmNuToN. 0. c

UNITED STATES IPAg'FENT OFFICE JOHN W. LATIMER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. LATIMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutch-ShippingMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clutch shipping mechanism, and is adapted inparticular for use in connection with mowing machines of the typecommonly called vertical lift mowers, in the operation of which machinesthe cutter bar may be raised to a substantially vertical position, andthe power transmitting mechanism designed to communicate motion from thetraction wheels to the cutting apparatus be automatically disconnectedtherefrom in a manner to stop the motion of the latter when the cutterbar has reached a predetermined angle of elevation; the object of myinvention being to provide an improved form of connecting mechanismbetween the cutter bar lifting devices and the clutch shippingmechanism, whereby the latter is rendered eflicient and safe inoperation regardless of the position of the bar lifting mechanism. Thisobject is attained by means of the mechanism shown in the accompanyingdrawing, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of part of amowing machine having my invention embodied in its construction; Fig. 2is a side elevation, similar to Fig. 1, designed to show the operationof the clutch shipping and cutter bar raising mechanism; Fig. 3 is anend view of part of a mowing machine having my invention forming a partthereof; Fig. 4 is a detached detail drawing designed to illustrate partof the cutter bar 'raising and clutch shipping mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 4.

Like reference characters designate the same parts throughout theseveral views.

1 represents the frame of the machine, 2 the tongue, 3 the carryingwheels, 4 the main shaft, 5 the cross shaft, 6 the main gear wheelmounted upon the axle, 7 a pinion meshing with gear wheel 6, 8 a bevelgear mounted upon the cross shaft, and 9 a clutch mechanism adapted toconnect the cutting Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 2, 1908.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Serial No. 465,739.

apparatus with the source of power; the clutch mechanism including asliding member 10, having connected therewith a clutch shippingmechanism, including a rod 11 adapted to slide in bearings 12 formingpart of the machine frame and having a spring 13 operative to move therod in one direction.

14 represents the inner shoe forming part of the cutting apparatus.

15 is a hanger, to which theshoe is pivotally connected by means ofcoupling pins 16, the hanger being mounted upon a coupling frame 17, and18 represents a cutter bar secured to the shoe.

Mounted upon the frame is a hand lever 19, having a forwardly extendingarm 20 that is connected with the coupling frame and cutter bar in amanner whereby the latter may be raised to a substantially verticalposition, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

21 represents a clutch controlling lever pivotally connected with themachine frame at 22 and provided with a cam portion 23 having a slottherein concentric with the pivotal connection of the lever and adaptedto receive the clutch shipping rod 11, the cam portion of the leverbeing operative against a collar 24 in a manner to move the rod in adirection to disconnect the mechanism of the cutting apparatus from itsdriving element and against the operative force of the spring 13, whenthe lever is moved in one direction.

Pivotally connected with the forward portion of the slotted cam 23 isthe rear end of a link 25, the forward end of which is adjust-ablysecured to a head piece 26, and 27 represents a link having its upperend pivotally connected with a fixed part of the machine and its lowerend pivotally connected with the head piece, whereby the latter ispermitted to swing about the pivotal connection of the link. The headpiece is provided with a slotted portion 28, at its forward end, that isadapted to receive a downwardly projecting arm 29 forming part of thehand lever 19,-the lower end of the arm extending below the head piecewhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the opposite wallsof the slotted portion beand the hand lever ing connected at theirforward ends by 1 means of a cross member 30 that limits :a movement ofthe hand lever in one direction relative to the head piece. At the rearend of the slotted .portion of the head piece is it is desired todisconnect the clutch mechanism while the bar is in operative positionand the hand lever forward, the gate will contact with the arm 29 and bemoved downward thereby, as shown in "Fig. 5, and not prevent a forwardmovement of the head piece when the lever 21 is operated to disengagethe clutch .mechanism.

In the operationofthe mechanism, when the hand lever is -movedrearwardly for the purpose of raising the cutter bar, the arm 29 is freeto move a limited distance "without contacting with the cross member 30of the head piece 26, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1; the clutchshipping mechanism being unaffected by the range of movement of the handlever, as the "cutting apparatus may remain in operative connection withthe motion transmitting gearing until the cutter bar has reached apredetermined angle of elevation, beyond which it cannot be raised bymeans of the hand lever without the latter contacting, through the 'arm'29, with the clutch shipping mechanism in a manner to disconnect thelatter, 'asshown by dotted lines in Fig. .2, and the shipping mechanismcannot be operated to connect the cutting apparatus with the drivinggear when the cutter bar is in a vertical position thrown rearward. Whenthe cutter bar is lowered toa predetermined angle of elevation, theclutch shipping mechanism will be automatically operated by means ofthearm 29 engaging with the gate or it may be operated by means-of thelever 21 in a manner to connect the. cutting apparatus with its drivinggear; and the drivinggear may be disconnected when the cutter bar 'is inan operativeposition,the yieldinggate 31 allowing the headpiece to moveforward or it will permit a rearward movement of the hand lever for thepurpose vo'fraising the cutter bar to a vertical position and alsopermit the lever 21 tobe operated in a manner to disconnect the drivinggear when the bar is in operative position and the-hand lever in aforward position.

hat I claimas my invention, and desi'r'e'to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A clutchshippingmechanism for mowmember ing machines including, incombination, a machine frame, a driving geana cut-tingappara tus, saidcuttinga-pparatus including a" cutter bar, a'clutch mechanism adapted toconnect sa1d drlv-inggearwith said-cutting apparatus,

a clutch shipping mechanism including a lever pivotally mounted uponsaid frame and adapted to control the movement of said clutch mechanism,a cutter bar adjusting mechanism including a hand lever mounted upon afixed part of said machine frame, a clutch controlling arm forming partof said hand lever, said clutch controlling lever being provided with alever operating member having one end connected therewith anditsopposite end adapted to engage with said clutch controlling arm in amanner to ,un-

clutch said clutch mechanism when said cutter bar has reached apredetermined angle of elevation, said lever operating member having ayielding gate within the path of movement of said clutch controllingarm.

2. A-clutch shipping mechanism for mowin machines including, incombinatioma'machine frame, a driving gear, acutting-apparatus, saidcuttingapparatus including a cutter bar, a clutch mechanism adapted toconnect said driving gearwith said cutting apparatus, a clutch sh ppingmechanism includingalever pivotallymounted upon said frameandadapt- 'edto control the movement of said clutch mechamsm, a cutter bar adjustingmechan ism including a hand lever mounted upon a fixed part of saidmachine frame, a clutch controlling arm forming part of said hand lever,said clutch controlling lever being provided with a lever operatingmember having one end connected therewith and its opposite end connectedwith the machine frame by means of a swinging link and adapted to engagewlth sald clutch controlling arm in a manner to unclutch said clu'tchmechanism when said cutter bar has reached a predetermined angle'o'felevation, .and a yielding gate within the path of movement bf saidclutch controllingarm forming part of said lever operating member.

'3. A clutch'shipping mechanism for mowing machines including, incombination, a

machine frame, a driving gear, a cutting apparatus, said cuttingapparatus mcluding a outterbar, a clutch mechanism adapted to connectsaid drivingggear with said cutting apparatus, aclutch shippingmechanism including a lever pivotally mounted uponsaid machine frame andadapted to control the movement o'f said clutch :mechanism,:a cutter baradjusting mechanism including :a hand lever mounted upon a fiXedpartofsaid=machine frame, clutch controlling arm iforming part 'of saidhand lever, "said clutch -controlling lever being provided with a leveroperating member, said lever operating consisting of a link having oneend pivotally connected with the clutch controlling lever and itsopposite end adjustably connected with a head piece, said head piecehaving a slotted portion adapted to receive said clutch controlling arm,the opposite walls of said slot-ted portion being connected at theirforward ends in a manner to engage with said arm, and a yielding gateWithin the path of movement of said arm and pivotally connected withsaid lever operating 10 member.

JOHN WV. LATIMER.

Witnesses CHAS. H. CRAM, P. H. SHEA.

